Guillain–Barré Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is an immune-mediated acute polyradiculoneuropathy with different subtypes, clinical features, and demographics. Nerve conduction study is important in differentiating axonal and demyelinating form of GBS. Diagnosis of various subtypes is essential as they have different pathophysiology and prognosis. Objective: The study was aimed to evaluate the different subtype spectrum of GBS in our patient population cohort and to look for the clinical features, demographics, and electrophysiological profile variations among the patients with GBS. Materials and Methods: We evaluated clinical spectrum and electrodiagnostic parameters of the admitted patients in Department of Neurology of our tertiary care center between September 2019 and April 2022 with clinical diagnosis of GBS. It was a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study. Results: Out of 49 study participants, 63.82% patients had axonal form while 36.2% of patients had acute inflammatory demyelination polyneuropathy by applying Hadden criteria. Statistically lower single breath count (SBC) (median 10.5; P < 0.0001) at admission was observed in ventilated patients compared to nonventilated patients of GBS. Conclusion: Axonal form is the most common subtype of GBS in our study cohort. SBC at admission could be an important bedside tool to predict requirement of ventilatory support in admitted patients of GBS.